Assessment of disease activity in alveolar echinococcosis: a comparison of contrast enhanced ultrasound, three-phase helical CT and [(18)F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography.

BACKGROUND

Objective of the present study was to assess activity or vascularization of focal liver lesions in alveolar echinococcosis (AE) using [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in comparison with contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and three-phase helical computed tomography (CT).

METHODS

In this prospective study, 17 patients with confirmed AE of the liver were included (6 males, 11 females; average age: 59 +/- 16 years; average duration of disease: 10.5 years) and were then examined using FDG-PET, precontrast ultrasound (US), CEUS, and three-phase helical CT. We assessed metabolic activity (FDG-PET) and vascularization (CEUS and CT) of Echinococcus multilocularis specific hepatic lesions.

RESULTS

FDG-PET identified increased metabolic activity in the corresponding lesions in seven patients (41.2%). A vascularization pattern of echinococcal lesions was visualized in 9 patients (52.9%) by CEUS and in 4 patients (23.5%) by CT. All positive FDG-PET findings were also positive at CEUS.

CONCLUSIONS

There was association between findings of metabolic activity in AE at FDG-PET and vascularized lesions of the liver returned by CEUS. This suggests that CEUS may represent a cost-effective tool in the decision making to perform FDG-PET examination.